Pets: Please Help Quickly

I have an 11wk Chihuahua puppy that is snapping us, really biting and holding on...drawing blood and just ornery...I have been handling it by distracting her with something else or just putting her down & ignoring her until she's calmed down...our 9yr old BT has snapped her back 3 times, mostly very gentle and patient with her...now our neighbors were here for dinner tonight and said you should snap the dog back in her snout, head or lips...snap her with your knuckles...after they left I heard her yipe & determined my husband had snapped her in the nose...I told him I know how strong his snap is because he's done it to the back of my head and I put a stop to that immediately because it hurt so much...this is a 2 lb puppy...please help with suggestions to prevent this behavior...the husband is a mean ass who enjoys being "tough" so getting him to stop is a exercise in frustration...Thank you guys, I know you will come thru...Deb

Toys! Lots and lots of safe, chewey toys for her! Carry one with you at ALL TIMES and every time she puts her mouth on something that is not a toy, stick a toy in her mouth and give her a love. She will come to think that chomping on a toy is the way to getting love.

Disclaimer - I am a cat person, however I did raise a doberman puppy using this method and it worked perfectly. Sniff. I still miss that dog.

Thank you for your responses, Yankee that's the way I thought it should be handled too...I couldn't believe my neighbor just snapped her in the face...I'd never do that to someone else's pet...anyway, I just need to get this handled 'cause this morning my husband is not touching the pup, didn't take her out, punishing me for disagreeing...Tammy, Thank you, too, for just saying something...

I won't say what I want to say about your husband out of respect to you...

But yes, lots of toys! This is the age they teeth some too so they want to just bit and chew on everything. I have heard about blowing in their face too if you are holding them and they snap. They don't like it. Another option...a squirt bottle to distract from the behavior.

Good luck, that is such a cute puppy! Perhaps a call to a dog trainer to talk about it will help also.

Debbie, that blowing in her face is a wonderful suggestion...I've never hit my animals, never...I roll up a newspaper & hit it in palm...it stops my BT in his tracks...toys & blowing...I think I"ve found the answer...THANK YOU GUYS! you never fail me and may God bless you as you are blessing others...

You can also "yelp" like another puppy and then go away and leave her alone, do not look at her, do not talk to her.. Another puppy will stop playing if the other puppy hurts it. If she wants to play she will have to learn not to bite.

She is just perfect as far as I'm concerned...slow go always has been my motto, unfortunately I don't live alone...I'm trying to stay on top of her...Thanks so much for your post...You guys are the very best and I so depend on all of you...Thank You, Deb